Chiefs: “I Got Some Weapons” – first off, Merry, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you’re having the best one yet.
Long ago on a day when Christmas fell on a Sunday, I had taken my family to church and it was a church where the minister was a friend of mine. He was giving the sermon that day, as usual, and he had called all the children up to the front in hopes of teaching them a simple lesson before his sermon (and I’m sure also hoping that the adults could learn from the children). He was having a Question & Answer session with them and knowing that many of them had already opened their presents earlier that morning, he asked, “What did you get for Christmas?” However, he was met with silence. My experience with children was that they would often clam up when put on display and I wasn’t surprised by their non-reply. So, he asked again louder, thinking that perhaps they didn’t hear him. He was met with more silence again and so… he waited and when finally, from the back of the group came in a tiny voice of a two year old, who said loud and clear, “I got some weapons.” To which most laughed heartily while other were aghast and I could see his parent shrinking in the pew. For me it was an unforgettable moment, especially since it happened in church… ON CHRISTMAS DAY!
So, why tell you that story on this day, of all days? It reminds me of the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs!
This years’ team has more healthy weapons — finally — than any team I can recall, in K.C. or otherwise, and the difference is almost laughable. Consequently, the Chiefs will be a tough, tough out entering the playoffs… even if they don’t get the 2-seed, which seems highly likely now since the 12-3 Patriots only have to beat the 4-11 Dolphins, for that not to happen.
So, let’s take a look at those many weapons, on Offense as well as Defense and Special Teams, which these Chiefs have to throw at their opponents.
QB Patrick Mahomes – Mahomes has now thrown for 75 TDs and 9,238 passing yards: both NFL records. He remains the preeminent QB in the NFL, bar none. He’s clearly the best pocket passer in the league, perhaps the history of the league.
WR Tyreek Hill – this 4th year “fastest man in the NFL” has transformed himself into one of the best WRs in the league. What he offers when he’s not catching long bombs is more important because every defense has to account for his field stretching ability, far and wide.
TE Travis Kelce – this TE is the only player to have over 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons. This season he has 94 receptions for 1,205 yards.
Running back by committee: LeSean McCoy, Damien Williams, Spencer Ware, and Darwin Thompson proved the Chiefs have the best RB core group they’ve had, maybe ever. The health of this group will be critical as the Chiefs head into the playoffs. Every RB in this group is speedy and can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Mitchell Schwartz – Schwartz is one of the best RTs in the NFL and should have made the Pro Bowl this year. He’s not so much a weapon as he is someone who protects the weapons. Same goes for Eric Fisher.
Receiving Targets 3, 4, and 5: Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman offer reliability as weapons for Mahomes to use.
The Chiefs also have a Defense with weapons on it this year:
Tyrann Mathieu – Mathieu is not only a vocal leader on this defense but ability to help mentor younger players bodes well for the future of the Chiefs D.
Frank Clark – Clark now has consistently been a thorn in the side of opposing OLs no matter who the Chiefs are playing.
Terrell Suggs – Suggs addition to this Defense is notable even if he isn’t the player he used to be because other teams will still plan for his presence. However… Suggs still gots da juice.
Chris Jones – there is likely no one on the defensive side of the ball this year who has been more disruptive than Chris Jones. While I’m hoping that Brett Veach can find a way to fit him under the cap and sign him to a long term deal, the Chiefs will most probably put the franchise tag on his this offseason.
Charvarius Ward – Ward has become perhaps the best move Brett Veach has made for the Chiefs. Ward is now playing at nearly a Pro Bowl level and I’d trust him to cover any WR in the league one-on-one… and he’s still progressing. He has one Forced Fumble, 2 INTs, adn 10 passes defensed. He could have more but most QBs are now not throwing his way.
The Chiefs Special Teams has weapons… spelled with a “s” as well.
Mecole Hardman – Hardman started out the year making some bad decisions but has turned that around and has made the Pro Bowl.
Harrison Butker – Butker hit a 56 yard field goal and is dangerous from almost any distance now… pardon my double-doink.
Dustin Colquitt – Colquitt is still one of the better punters in the league and can not only blast a long one when necessary but still place them inside the 10 yard-line if he needs to… which he hasn’t needed to do very much this year.
There’s the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs list of “weapons” to use as they head into the playoffs next week. Now, to discard the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend!
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, GO HERE.